Sloe Sunday

Yesterday was a pretty unremarkable Sunday.
The weather wasn’t doing much of anything and the hedgerows were calling.
We pulled on boots ’n’ Barbours and marched out for a spot of foraging.

Hedges all over Britain are heaving with goodness, and we wanted to grab our fair share before it all goes to the blackbirds.
The hit list?
Sloes for gin, blackberries for crumble.
If you’ve never made sloe gin, make this the year you do! It’s easier than you might think, and we’re being treated to an early, bumper season this year.
First though, you’ve got to collect them!

Turn the bottle every other day for a week, then once a week for 2 months (just in time for Christmas!) or, up to a year if you can wait.

When it’s ready, line a sieve with a piece of muslin or cloth and strain the gin through it. Pour the beautifully pink gin into little labeled bottles and put away. They’ll only get better in time, so you could even save some for next next Christmas.

When you’re ready to serve, you can pour it into little port glasses or serve in tumblers over ice.

Mum keeps hers in a decanter and is always ready to fill a hip-flask at the slightest provocation!